2021届高三第一次素质测试英语试题 Word版含答案

安徽六校教育研究会 2021 届高三第一次素质测试 英语试题 命题： 考试时间：120 分钟 试卷分值：150 分 注意事项： 1. 本试卷分第Ⅰ卷（选择题）和第Ⅱ卷（非选择题）两部分。 2. 答题前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。 3. 考试作答时，请将答案正确地填写在答题卡上。第 I 卷每小题选出答案后，用 2B 铅笔 把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑；第Ⅱ卷请用直径 0.5 毫米的黑色墨水签字笔在 答题卡上各题的答题区域内作答，超出答题区域书写的答案无效，在试题卷、草稿纸上 作 答无效。 4. 考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。 第 I 卷 第一部分 听力（共两节，满分 30 分） 做题时，先将答案标在试卷上，录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案 转 涂到答题卡上。 第一节（共 5 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 7.5 分） 听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项， 并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有 10 秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每 段对话仅读一遍。 1. Why does the man take a subway? A. The air in the subway is fresh. B. The traffic is too busy. C. The gas is too expensive. 2. Where does the conversation take place? A. At the hotel. B. At the airport. C. At the bus stop. 3. What does the man mean? A. He has had the same shoes. B. He doesn’t like the shoes. C. His wife doesn’t like the shoes. 4. What is the woman’s attitude to the man’s quitting the course? A. She respects it. B. She is against it. C. She supports it. 5. When will Sally get her guitar back? A. On Friday. B. On Thursday. C. On Wednesday. 第二节（共 15 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 22.5 分） 听下面 5 段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项 中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小 题，每小 题 5 秒钟；听完后，各小题给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第 6 段材料，回答第 6 至 7 题。 6. What’s the problem of Johnny? A. Lack of communication. B. Having growing pains. C. Absence from school. 7. What’s the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Teacher and student. B. Doctor and patient. C. Husband and wife. 听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 9 题。8. What do we know about the writer? A. He is still a child now. B. He was born disabled. C. He was an assistant years ago. 9. How does the man feel about the writer’s speeches? A. Disappointing. B. Serious. C. Encouraging. 听第 8 段材料，回答第 10 至 12 题。 10. How does Tim think people of his age can help with energy saving? A. By using energy-saving lights. B. By turning off computer screens. C. By playing less computer games. 11. What does Tim advise people to do to save water? A. Take a quick shower instead of a long bath. B. Wash large quantities of clothes at a time. C. Stop using washing machines at home. 12. What kind of drinks does Tim suggest buying? A. Ones in cardboard packets. B. Ones in plastic bottles. C. Ones in glass bottles. 听第 9 段材料，回答第 13 至 16 题。 13. What is the man probably? A. An inventor. B. A professor. C. A reporter. 14. Who is Hermione Granger based on? A. The woman, Mrs. Rowling herself. B. One of the woman’s best friends. C. The woman’s favorite teacher. 15. What was beyond the woman’s expectation? A. The publication of the Harry Potter books. B. The popularity of the Harry Potter books. C. The inspiration for the Harry Potter books. 16. How different will the woman’s future books on Harry Potter probably be? A. Rather exciting. B. More realistic. C. Rather scary. 听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。 17. What is special about Cuba? A. Students do not pay for school. B. Students study and do physical work. C. Students work for tuition (学费) at school. 18. How often do students work at school? A. Every week. B. Every day. C. Every summer. 19. Which purpose is intended by the system? A. Developing good learning habits in their life. B. Training students to be experts in tasting vegetables. C. Learning the importance of production. 20. What do we learn from the passage? A. Students usually work on the land of the school. B. Students plant vegetables, fruits and crops. C. In summer, all students go to help farmers.第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，每小题 2 分，满分 40 分） 第一节（共 15 小题；每小题 2 分，满分 30 分） 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡 上 将该项涂黑。 A THEATER: STRAIGHT WHITE MEN From Korean American playwright Young Jean Lee comes a comedy that deals with the privilege problem through the story of three brothers (Jake by Bruch Reed, Drew by Avery Clark and Matt by Michael Tisdale) and their father Ed (played by Michael Winters), who reunite over Christmas eggnog and light trash-talking that leads to something deeper. Through Dec.18. Studio Theater, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. $20-$85. EXHIBIT: GATEWAYS/PORTALS This exhibit explores the immigrant experience in America. By looking at community, social justice and gatherings, it aims to show how people come to adopt a new home in major metro areas like Washington, Baltimore, Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. Dec.5 through Aug.6. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort PI.SE. 202-633-4820. Free. BLUES: PIEDMONT BLUES As part of Strathmore’s Shades of Blues festival, jazz pianist and composer Gerald Clayton leads the nine-piece Assembly band in a performance featuring singer Rene Marie and tap dancer Maurice Chestnut. This show, which highlights works by Piedmont Blues musicians, will combine music, film and photography. 8 p.m. Dec.10. Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. 301-581-5100. $30-$60. INDOOR FUN: WINTERFEST You don’t have to wait until spring training to get a look at the Nats. The Washington Nationals host a two-day festival featuring games, activities and appearances by its great baseball players. Dec.10-11. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon PI. NW. 202-608-1110. $33, $23 children. 21. Who will give a performance at Studio Theater? A. Young Jean Lee. B. Michael Winters. C. Rene Marie. D. Maurice Chestnut. 22. Where can people learn about American history? A. Studio Theater. B. Anacostia Community Museum. C. Strathmore. D. Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 23. Which number should a sports fan call? A. 202-332-3300. B. 202-633-4820. C. 301-581-5100. D. 202-608-1110. B I’ve always loved singing but, until this summer, it was only in the shower. I never thought I’d missed out on much until my children joined the school choir. As singing has become a bigger part of my children’s lives, I’ve seen their confidence grow. It’s a big thing to perform on stage, but soon this was something they could deal with easily. I had encouraged them to challengethemselves and they’d succeeded. As a mother, I thought: job done. What happened next threw me. “Come and join the parents’ choir,” a friend suggested. I told her I couldn’t sing. “It’s not about the singing; it’s about the experience,” she said. “You should try it out.” That night I struggled to sleep. Every day, I encourage my children to push themselves out of their comfort zone; every day, I learn that the only way to get your children to behave in a certain way is by modeling that behavior yourself. Here I was doing the opposite. The next morning, I joined. I felt like the awkward new girl the morning I walked into the practice room. An original score had been written to be sung in three parts, which others read like they were sentences on a page and burst into song. To me, it might well have been written in ancient Greek. I tried my best to follow the tune. Standing on stage on the evening of our performance, I started trembling, but as soon as the music started, I calmed down. A sea of smiling faces encouraged me. Applause filled the hall and I was really excited. I realized that performing was addictive. I also realized that what I always told my children was true: unless you push yourself and are brave to try something new, you’ll miss out on so much that life has to offer. 24. Which of the following best describes the author’s children? A. Imaginative. B. Generous. C. Independent. D. Courageous. 25. Why did the author decide to join the parents’ choir? A. She followed her friend’s example. B. She was encouraged by her children. C. She tried to achieve her dream of singing. D. She hoped to set her children an example. 26. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggest? A. The author had difficulty singing the song. B. The author was unable to write music. C. The author was fond of classical music. D. The author could write in ancient Greek. 27. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. Practice makes perfect. B. Confidence: the secret of success. C. Challenges make life meaningful. D. Opportunity favors a cautious mind. C While walking through some remote forest in Indonesia’s West Sumatra, some biologists claim to have spotted the world’s largest flower ever recorded. The flower is a giant Rafflesia tuan-mudae, a species that only comes out for about seven days at the end of the plant’s lifespan. The record flower measured in at a diameter of 111 centimeters, which makes it larger than the previous record holder by 4 centimeters, also a Rafflesia tuan-mudae. “This is the largest Rafflesia tuan-mudae that has ever been documented,” said Ade Putra at the Agam Conservation Agency in Sumatra. The flower is characterized by its flesh-colored petals (花瓣) that are covered in white spots. That might not sound like the most attractive description, but it’s proper considering the smell this species is known to give off. Rafflesia tuan-mudae is a type of special flower, which smells like a dying body. Don’t let this fact lessen the glory of a find like this, however. What the flower lacks in fragrance makes up for its appealing biology. The pungent smell is meant to attract flies, which are this flower’s main pollinators (传粉者). Interestingly, it’s still a mystery as to what type of animal distributes the tuan-mudae seeds. These plants also grow inside the root of a host plant for around nine months until suddenly showingthemselves to the world with their giant smelly flowers. They were named “Rafflesia” after a British colonist ( 殖民者), Sir Stamford Raffles, who was the first to officially identify one in the early 19th century. Hopefully for Raffles’ sake, it was named after him to honor the discovery, not because of the good sir’s smell. Luckily, it takes a special kind of scientists to run toward one of these flowers rather than away, but in this case the prize was worth the smell. Whatever its smell, it’s a special plant, and it’s encouraging that such rare natural wonders can still find room to grow on our crowded planet. 28. What was the diameter of the previous record holder of the biggest flower? A. 111 centimeters. B. 104 centimeters. C. 107 centimeters. D. 115 centimeters. 29. What does the underlined word “pungent” mean in Paragraph 4? A. Strong and unpleasant. B. Relaxing and soft. C. Fragrant and sharp. D. Pleasant and attractive. 30. What is the main idea of the fifth paragraph? A. When the flower was found. B. Where the flower was found. C. How the flower was named. D. Why the flower was so special. 31. How does the author find the discovery? A. Nervous. B. Fortunate. C. Annoyed. D. Satisfied. D “Alexa, what’s 5 minus 3?” A 6-year-old boy recently asked that question in a video, which was popular on Twitter. Alexa, Amazon’s voice-started assistant, delivered a quick answer: 2. It’s cute, but it raises a question that’s been on the minds of many parents and educators lately: How do virtual assistants like Alexa affect children’s learning experiences? Clint Hill, an English teacher, says in his classrooms he often sees “children quietly talking into their phones and asking Google or other services to spell some complicated words that they don’t know.” But Hill says he doesn’t mind. “I struggle with spelling, and spellcheck on my word processing has been a lifesaver for me.” he says. “I think being able to use those technological aids is not hurting anybody,” Hill adds. But some experts say it’s not just about learning basic math or spelling. “One of the best gifts we can give our children is doing that kind of problem-solving together,” says Diane Levin, a professor of applied human development. Levin says it’s important for children to learn to struggle – even just a little – with challenges. “They will use those skills that they’re learning for all kinds of things that come along,” Levin says. How much concern should parents have over Alexa and their children? Every new wave of technology, from calculators to TV sets, causes a panic about its effect on children, and nostalgia (怀旧) for the past, says Dimitri Christakis, an expert in child health, behavior and development. But he says that a child watching television is having a completely passive experience. Because new technology is interactive, “it helps understand how the world works,” Christakis says. “But while watching television, you play no role in the content,” Christakis says. Still, he agrees that this debate is about much more than knowing what 5 minus 3 is. It’s also about developing the patience to solve problems. “That ability to stay focused,” he says, “is one of the most important developmental skills that children acquire.” 32. What can be inferred from Hill’s words? A. Technological aids are helpful.B. His students don’t use their brains. C. His students aren’t focused in class. D. Spelling is really difficult for small children. 33. What can we learn about technological aids in Levin’s opinion? A. They fail to solve problems. B. They give children challenges. C. They present a threat to teachers at school. D. They are harmful to children’s development. 34. Which of the following would Christakis agree with? A. New technology affects children most. B. New technology tends to cause worries. C. Television has been a thing of the past. D. Today’s parents are too concerned. 35. What does Christakis stress about children in the last paragraph? A. Their ability to interact with others. B. Their ability to learn from the past. C. Their ability to study technology. D. Their ability to pay attention. 第二节（共 5 小题；每小题 2 分，满分 10 分） 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余 选 项。 Wearing a mask for confidence You may often see young people in Asian countries wear their masks in public. 36 Asians often wear face masks to prevent one’s own germs ( 微 生 物 ) or sickness from spreading in public places. 37 This means they will try their best to make contributions to their group. During the novel coronavirus outbreak, Asians will wear masks to prevent both themselves and others from being infected, which will eventually benefit the whole group. Apart from physical protection, masks have evolved into social firewalls among young people in Asian countries as well. 38 They often want to keep a safe distance from strangers. But when they can’t achieve it in public such as on a crowded subway, hiding their faces with masks can sometimes help them gain some privacy. 39 For example, they can avoid the embarrassment when they don’t have enough time to do makeup. 40 They wear them, along with audio headsets, to signal a lack of desire to communicate with those around them, according to Quartz. Not only are masks used to prevent the spread of disease, they have indeed made their way into the mainstream and are here to stay in Asian countries. A. What makes them do so? B. Asians are subject to Confucianism (儒教). C. In many Asian countries, people value collectivism. D. They think wearing masks is not related to their freedom. E. For this reason, wearing masks has become a fashion trend among young people. F. For some young girls, wearing masks can give them confidence and a sense of security. G. Young people are more concerned about their privacy than their parents and grandparents. 第三部分 语言知识运用（共两节，满分 45 分） 第一节 完形填空（共 20 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 30 分） 阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处 的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。WHAT are good friends? This is not a (an) 41 question. But Mark and Jarryd Haines, 42 , have always been good friends. The two boys from Sydney have known each other for most of their lives. Both of them 43 playing Australian football. A few years ago, when Mark was nine, he developed brain cancer. The 44 robbed the boy of his 45 , part of his hearing and his ability to play his favorite sport. 46 , throughout the years, Jarryd 47 his closest friend. They still share their love of Australian football. And they still like talking about the Sydney Swans, their favorite team. Two weeks ago, I took my 48 at Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the Swans. The old stadium 49 fans. Shortly into the second quarter, I heard some great commentary (现场解说) from a boy. Play by play, Jarryd was bringing the game to 50 . I turned and saw him. Mark was sitting next to him. 51 he cannot see anymore, Mark still loves the Swans very much. Usually, he goes to the stadium and listens to the commentary on the radio. But in the second quarter of that match, the radio system 52 . That was when his friend Jarryd stepped in. I 53 looked at the Swans and Buddy, the team’s star player. 54 that, I was focusing on Jarryd and Mark. “What’s happening now, mate?” Mark asked. “Don’t worry, Mark,” Jarryd replied. “Okay. Buddy’s got it. Will he go for it? He’s going for it! It’s his tenth goal! Buddy is 55 !” Mark listened carefully. He was lost in the 56 of Australian football brought to life by his friend. Sports can be 57 . Yet, they can also allow us to share wonderful 58 with others, 59 they be close friends or perfect strangers. Here, Jarryd and Mark have moved me, and perhaps some other spectators (观众), with their precious 60 . 41. A. difficult B. easy C. interesting D. boring 42. A. for sure B. for fun C. for real D. for good 43. A. hate B. admit C. resist D. enjoy 44. A. disease B. pain C. judgment D. treatment 45. A. taste B. smell C. sight D. mind 46. A. Certainly B. Mostly C. Hopefully D. Luckily 47. A. became B. remained C. found D. forgot 48. A. position B. ticket C. choice D. seat 49. A. was crowded with B. was known to C. was popular among D. was favorable for 50. A. memory B. life C. end D. soul 51. A. Because B. When C. Although D. If 52. A. broke down B. turned up C. died away D. fade out 53. A. nearly B. mostly C. hardly D. closely 54. A. In regard to B. Regardless of C. In response to D. Instead of 55. A. under fire B. on fire C. in place D. out of place 56. A. history B. future C. plan D. magic 57. A. attractive B. common C. competitive D. beneficial 58. A. moments B. discoveries C. adventures D. experiments 59. A. must B. should C. may D. need 60. A. experience B. friendship C. effort D. time第Ⅱ卷 第二节（共 10 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 15 分） 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 China launched its 61 (one) independent Mars mission ( 任 务 ) on July 23 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan, 62 (open) the nation’s planetary exploration program. If everything goes according to schedule, the 5-ton Tianwen 1 (天问 1 号), 63 consists of two major parts, the orbiter and the lander, will travel more than 400 million km over some seven months 64 entering the Martian gravitational (引力) field. The entire landing operation is expected to take about 7 minutes, which 65 (call) by experts “the 66 (risky) moment” of a Mars landing mission. After a certain period of preparations, the lander will 67 (gradual) unlock the rover (火星车) to allow it to move onto the Martian surface. Research on the Red Planet is also meaningful to studying the history and 68 (evolve) of Earth, space scientists said. Tianwen, 69 Quest for Heavenly Truth, is a long poem by famous ancient poet Qu Yuan of the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). He is known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry and verses. Naming the mission after the poem was intended 70 (show) China’s determination to explore deep space and to implant the love of science in young people. 第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 35 分） 第一节 短文改错（共 10 小题；每小题 1 分，满分 10 分） 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共 有 10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。 增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。删 除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。 修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。 注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2. 只允许修改 10 处，多者（从第 11 处起）不计分。 Li Bai, a famous poet in the Tang Period, liked playing and afraid of difficulties in his childhood. However, he fell behind others in his studies. One morning, on his way home after school, he walked by a stream, that he saw an old woman grind (v. 磨 ) a very thick iron rod ( 棒 ). He went to her and curious asked why she was doing so. The old woman replied, “To make a needle.” Li Bai felt more curious on the answer, “How can you grind such a thick iron rod into a needle?” “If one work with constant effort, he can make this,” she answered. Hearing her word, Li Bai was inspired. After that, Li Bai studied hard and made a rapid progress. 第二节 书面表达（满分 25 分） 假定你是李华。为弘扬中国文化，学生会将举办主题为“中国文化”的英语演讲比赛。 作为国际学校学生会主席，你将在比赛开始前发言。请根据以下提示用英语写一篇发言稿。 1. 活动的主题及意义；2. 中国文化博大精深；3. 预祝比赛圆满成功。 注意：1. 词数 100 词左右； 2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯； 3. 短文开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。 Ladies and gentlemen, That’s all. Thank you!高三英语试题答案 第 1页（共 3 页） 安徽六校教育研究会 2021 届高三第一次素质测试 英语试题答案 第一部分 听力（共两节，满分 30 分） 1-5 CBAAB 6-10 ACBCB 11-15 ACCAB 16-20 CBBCA 第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，每小题 2 分，满分 40 分） 21-23 BBD 24-27 DDAC 28-31 CACB 32-35 ADBD 36-40 ACGFE 第三部分 语言知识运用（共两节，满分 45 分） 第一节： 41-45 BADAC 46-50 DBDAB 51-55 CACDB 56-60 DCACB 第二节： 61. first 62. opening 63. which 64. before 65. is called 66. riskiest 67. gradually 68. evolution 69. or 70. to show 第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 35 分） 第一节： Li Bai, a famous poet in the Tang Period, liked playing and ∧afraid of difficulties in his was childhood. However, he fell behind others in his studies. Therefore/ Thus One morning, on his way home after school, he walked by a stream, that he saw an old where woman grind a very thick iron rod. He went to her and curious asked why she was doing so. The grinding curiously old woman replied, “To make a needle.” Li Bai felt more curious on the answer, “How can you about/of grind such a thick iron rod into a needle?” “If one work with constant effort, he can make this,” works it she answered. Hearing her word, Li Bai was inspired. After that, Li Bai studied hard and made a words rapid progress. 第二节： 略 附听力原文： Text 1 W: Why do you take a subway? It is too crowded and the air is not pleasant. M: I’m waiting for our President to lower the gas prices. Text 2 W: Good morning, sir. Can I help you?高三英语试题答案 第 2页（共 3 页） M: Yes, please. I missed my flight to Korea. But it wasn’t my fault. My bus broke down on the way. W: OK, sir. Don’t worry. Text 3 W: Why not try this pair of shoes? They are perfect. M: Well, I would buy them if my wife would not have presented me the same ones last week. Text 4 M: I won’t continue this course any longer. W: What’s wrong with you? M: Nothing is wrong. I just don’t want to. W: Well, go ahead if you must, but think of the consequences… Text 5 M: Could you return this guitar to Sally when you meet her on Friday at the library? W: Two days away? No problem. In fact, I’m seeing her tomorrow afternoon at the class. I can give it to her then. Text 6 W: It’s high time we cared about Johnny’s education. We need to help him with his growth. M: Oh. Isn’t everything going on well with him? Going to school, returning home, doing sports and … he is living a normal life. W: Yes, normal. But it was the past. Since he went to high school, he has been unwilling to communicate with others, except me. His teacher also tells me that Johnny has no friends at school. Is it so-called growing pains? Who knows? M: How come? If necessary, ask him to see a doctor or psychologist. Let’s talk with him after he comes back today. W: Yeah. I agree. Text 7 W: What are you reading? M: It’s a book written by a guy who was born without arms or legs. W: What? So, how does he get around? M: He can actually walk pretty well, but he can’t move that fast. He also had an assistant who helps him. He’s actually quite successful. W: He must have worked pretty hard. M: Yeah. He travels around the world and gives speeches to young people. He’s changed many people’s lives. Even when nothing seemed possible, he stayed positive and put in even more effort. W: That’s such an important lesson, especially for young people. We should take Jess to listen to his speech. Text 8 W: Tim, did you think about green life at home? M: Yeah. People of my age use huge amounts of power by leaving computer screens running 24 hours 7 days a week – they’re never turned off. That’s something we can all do something about. Fortunately, most people now use energy-saving lights. W: And what about water? M: We should ask ourselves whether we really need a long hot bath. Wouldn’t a quick shower do?高三英语试题答案 第 3页（共 3 页） And if you’re putting your sports clothes in the washing machine, use cold water if you can. Your parents will be happy because you’ll use less electricity. W: Did you think about shopping? M: Yeah, you don’t need a new plastic bag every time you shop, and buy drinks in a glass bottle if you can, because glass is always recycled. If you do need to buy ready meals, take the cardboard packets to the recycling bank. W: Thanks, Tim. Text 9 M: Where do you get your idea from, Mrs. Rowling? W: Where the idea for Harry Potter came from I really couldn’t tell you. I was traveling on a train between Manchester and London, and it just popped into my head. I spent four hours thinking about what Hogwarts would be like – the most interesting train journey I’ve ever taken. By the time I got off at King’s Cross, many of the characters in the books had already been invented. M: Are any of the characters in the books based on real people? W: Tricky question! The answer is yes and no. I have to confess that Hermione Granger is a little bit like I was at her age, though I was neither as clever nor as annoying. Ron is a little bit like my best friend and Professor Snape is a lot like one of my old teachers, but I’m not saying which one. M: How long have you been writing? W: Nearly all my life. I had written two novels before I had the idea for Harry Potter, though I’d never tried to get them published. M: Did you expect the Harry Potter books to be so successful? W: Never. I just wrote the sort of thing I liked reading when I was younger. I didn’t expect lots of people to like them. In fact, I never really thought much, apart from getting them published. M: Any clues about the next book? W: I don’t want to give anything away, but I can tell you that the books are getting darker… Harry Potter’s going to have quite a bit to deal with as he gets older. Sorry if they get too scary! M: Thanks for your time. W: You’re welcome. Text 10 One of the interesting things about Cuba is its educational system. As in many other countries, schools are free. What is unusual is that schools combine study with manual work. Each school has a plot of land where the children work for a few hours each day. They plant vegetables, which they weed and water, and later they harvest the crops. In this way, they develop good working habits and learn how important it is to produce. Usually children do not like vegetables such as spinach, green beans, or cabbage. But, by growing vegetables themselves, Cuban children soon develop a taste for them. During the summer, older children also go to the country to help the farmers with the crops. In this system, the children spend part of their school time studying and the rest working in the open air, helping to increase the nation’s production.